The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1887-06-24
wEsTBRook sEMINARY...pc5s.


think for themselves; that the spirit Of phi
lanthropy is filling mems minds, and the cru
elites of the old law are fast disappearing,
and that revenge is no longer the moving
spirit of law, but that the motive Of punish
ment is the repression Of crime.
To interpret and carry into effect the great
body of law which prevails in this country
requires the laborious efforts and untiring
zeal of many men. No one can master the
entire system of law, and the span Of life is
too short for anyone to know, completely,
even one branch of It; yet every lawyer
should be grounded in the first principles Of
each of the main branches of law, and. more
than that, must be. well yersed in all the
multifarious affairs of every day life.
The educated and thoughtful lawyer is an
important factor in the growth and impulse
of public opinion. For, trace the history Of
affairs in this country from its earliest days
to the present time, and it will be found that
In all great crises, and at all times when pub
lie sentiment is aroused, the great speeches
and thoughts which stirred the public to ac-
ton have come. in majority OF instances.
from lawyers; nor is this remarkable, when
we consider that as class. they are think
ing and rejecting men, who have become
fitted by training and habits of thought to
guide the opinions Of Others
The lawyers calling is second to none in
dignity and Importance, not even excepting
the ministry. For, while the minister has
to deal with the spiritual welfare of man, to
the lawyer is entrusted the wealth, honor
and life of man, those elements which are
the springs Of action, and the influences
that determine his character. For no wealth
is so great, no reputation so dear, no life so
precious, but that when asSailed it is freely
entrusted to the care and protection of the
lawyer; and the lawyer who deserves the
name, guards and protects them more sacred
ly than he would his own. There are, how
eyer, dishonest lawyers as there are black
sheep in every flock. But there is no calling
or profession where success sdepends so
much on honesty and fidelity as that of the
lawyer.
Why then is law so uncertain, if it is so
majestic and comprehensive, and so many
men devote their lives to its study and appli-
cation? 1t arises, as Justice Story well
says, mot from the obscurity and huctua-
tion of decisions, as the vulgar enormously
suppose, but from the endless c0mpleXity
and variety Of human actions. 1t is impos-
sible to provide by any code, however ex-
tensive, for the infinite variety of distinctions
as to civil justice arising from the imperfec-
tions of human knowledge and foresight;
and from those minute equities which are
often found in different scales, adding some
what to the weight of each, but rarely form
ing an exact equipoise. Until human actions
are capable of being limited ON every side,
to definite range of circumstances, the per-
mutations and combinations of which may
be perfectly ascertained and enumerated,
until right shall be entirely separated from
wrong in all the business of life, until, in
short, we shall become absolutely pure and
perfect in our actions, and perfectly con-
| usant of all the operations of the past, pres
| ent and future,-there will remain immeasur-
| able uncertainties in the law which will call
| for the exercise of professional talents, and
the grave judgment Of courts of justice"
Notwithstanding, however, its apparent
| imperfecti0ns, its seeming inconsistencies
| present pogress to law; and especially does
| this country, with its marvellous growth, its
| tremendous possibilities, destined to be the
| grandest nation the world has ever looked
| upon, with its unlimited capabilities for
| greatness in learning, in wealth, in art, in
| of its system of law; that law which it is
| said, surrounds us like the air we breathe,
| and lived before our being, that meets us in
| our helpless infancy, shields us with moth
| er's tenderness, follows us through the per-
ilous journey of our lives, guards our proper
| ty from harm, walks with us to the verge of
| the deep, dark valley, protects our lifeless
| remains in peace till the coming of the res
direction. Nay, even the sweet rose, plant
| ed by the hand of affection, or the wild flow
ess growing on our graves, shall all be guard
| ed by the strong arm of the law"
The poem, by Miss Mary Bradford Me-
serve, L. A., whic h followed, was produc-
tion of great merit, well delivered and fire.
quently interrupted by applause.
NOTES.
In our report of the trustees meeting yes
terday twas accidentally omitted the report
of the treasurer which showed -S7,1S3.74
receipts, and $685.. 10 expenses, and the fol-
| lowing additional committees:
Executive Committee-C. S. Fobes, Alfred
Woodman, Ara Cushman
On Buildings and Grounds-N. X. Sawyer, j. p.
Weston, Rufus Durham.
On feathers and School-M B. Coolidge, II. r.
| Virgin.JRev. w. X. French.
On Treasurers Account-H. II. Virgin, n X.
| Sawyer, Sidney Perham.
Audtor-Alfred WoOdman,